1991 NFC Championship vs New York Giants

Lore & Background

The 1991 season was the Lions' 62nd season in the NFL, their 58th in Detroit, and their third under the head coach/general manager tandem of Wayne Fontes and Chuck Schmidt. The Lions finished the regular season with a 12–4 record, tying a franchise record for wins and ending up in a three-way tie with the San Francisco 49ers and the Dallas Cowboys for the best record in the NFC. Their .706 winning percentage was not their best since 1962, as their 1970 record of 10-4 (.714) was higher.

In Their Own Story

Barry Sanders stood on the sideline, his eyes scanning the field where the Giants' defense lined up like an impenetrable wall. The silence that fell over the crowd as the Giants scored their first touchdown was heavier than any cheer; it was the sound of a dream beginning to fracture.

Reader's Guide

The Lions won their first division title since 1993, and their first ever as a member of the NFC North following the NFL's division realignment in 2002. This also marks their first playoff appearance since 2016. The win assured them their first home playoff game since 1993 and only their third since winning their last NFL title in 1957.

Did You Know?

• The Lions defeated the Los Angeles Rams 24–23 in the Wild Card game for their first playoff victory since 1957, ending the longest winless post-season drought in the NFL.
• The Lions hosted the Dallas Cowboys in the Divisional Round, which marked the first time the Lions hosted two playoff games in the same season in franchise history.
• The Lions defeated the Cowboys 31–23 to advance to the NFC Championship for the first time since the 1957 season.